Therapy Session #2

I must be somewhat pathological...after the first session, they swapped my therapist! hehe..actually they are afraid about what we psychologist term "transference" (Google it!)..oh well..anyway from a Chinese senior male counselor...now I have a Indian super senior female..she's really quite motherly.

Someone asked me, are you going to therapy? a) to get extra credit? or b) you need it? seriously, i think everyone could use some therapy..especially through crisis...but truth is, its still much of a taboo to go see a therapist, also, therapy really isn't cheap..i am just getting my at a ultra cheap rate, because i am a student. Back to question...i think its a combination of the two.

Anyway...we did this assignment for our Ethics class on Informed Consent, and at least in the one i wrote for my hypothetical wellness center's (otherwise known as my own clinic) informed consent form...there is a clause that says....

"Since unpleasant aspects of your life are typically discussed in the sessions, there are emotional risks involved, such as feelings of guilt, fear, anxiety, confusion, helplessness, or even anger. Be assured that this is to be expected and at time necessary for positive change. In most cases, therapy often leads to more satisfying relationships and a reduction of negative feelings. However, there are no guarantees. In some cases, individuals obtain little or no benefit from therapy, This is for you to evaluate and discern."

So there you go, now i am eating my own words to my imagined patients....therapy can seriously eat into you, perhaps its really one of those things where you it needs to get worst before it gets better...nonetheless, i think i have gathered important insights from session 02. And i feel my new therapist, is alot more sensative and less abrupt...perhaps with age truly comes wisdom.

We talk about power differential being a bad thing at times in therapy, but sometimes its therapeutic, because a lot of things we already know, and are already doing, but we need the assurance that we are doing the right thing. And sometimes, we need someone standing on the outside, to tell us to snap out of it. To consider other alternatives, to put a lid to all negative self talk.

Although i was a little apprehensive about continuing therapy after the first session, i think i feel better about it right now..and i do look forward exploring deeper. Yes, it might hurt, but even that too is necessary for change to take place. Sweeping your issues under the carpet is not the best solution in the long run, so its time to lift up the carpet and deal with the stuff underneath!